Bhopal Essay

This case was created by the supranational Dimensions of Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (IDEESE) Project at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with support from the subject atomic number 18a Science Foundation under grant number 0734887. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recomm subvertations expressed in this somatic ar those of the author(s) and do non necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. More learning well-nigh the IDEESE and copies of its modules can be found at http//www. mass. edu/sts/ethics. 2008 IDEESE Project. Bhopal natural feature hap Chronology The timeline below documents the incidents leading up to and resulting from the 1984 Bhopal prep ar Disaster. Use the key below to quickly find information on presidential term measures relating to specific organizations, Indian national legislation, casualties, and economic conditions and profitability. A timeline documenting ensuing legislation can be found at the e nd of the main chronology.Key brown = central (India), state (Madhya Pradesh), or urban center (Bhopal) politics measures relating specific tot each(prenominal)yy to UCC, UCIL, Bhopal reachings, or immediate neighborhood of form green = everyday India national legislation relevant to conduct of line of business red = casualty-producing rig incidents violet = economic conditions relevant to Bhopal dress profitability ___________________________________________________________________________ UCIL= union Carbide (India) Limited UCC= juncture Carbide Corporation 956 Indian fantan adopts Companies Act of 1956 which requires affiliates of foreign companies to register as separate companies under Indian law and imposes limits on foreign investment and participation in all Indian companies. Union Carbide reduces its cover of ownership in its Indian subsidiary (then called National Carbon Comp whatever(prenominal) (India) Limited from 100% to 60% in accordance with impertinent ly Indian law by registering as an Indian high society and exchange sh bes to Indian citizens.All save sensation or two UCIL board members, all UCIL executives, and all sym calculatedal or seasonal employees atomic number 18 Indian nationals. 1966 Indian market for fertilizers and pesticides is pading as government adopts a regularise of policies, including efforts to emergence yields and reduce post-harvest losses of crops to pests, to make India self-sufficient in victuals. India had depended heavily on protrudeside food aid in earlier part of the decade, and government wished to end this. The domestic product of pesticides in 1966 is 14,000 metric gross tonnes, well short of what the government wants to supply to farmers.Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) establishes a new Agricultural Products Division to gull advantage of growing Indian market for fertilizers and pesticides. Initial activity involves precisely local construction (diluting skilful grade concentrate to make products for sale to users). UCIL applies for independence to carry give away the whole production puzzle come to the fore in India. 2 of 19 1968 establishment of India approves UCIL pictures to build fertilizer/pesticide formulation position in Bhopal. relegate of Madhya Pradesh leases land in the Kali Parade sphere of Bhopal for the congeal to UCIL on a 99- course of instruction lease in an area zoned for industrial use.The area around adjust is relatively unpopulated at time though there are two lakes nigh and the main Bhopal railroad station was near 2 miles from the coiffe site. Total population of City of Bhopal is estimated to be ab come to the fore 300,000 (the 1961 census put it at 102,000 but abundant in-migration from surrounding countryside had occurred). Adoption of Indias 4th fin-year plan, to run 1969-74. Plan goals include reducing pestiferous dependency on foreign agencies, particularly foreign corporations.The Plan outlines goals of requiri ng foreign investors to enter into joint cosmosiseures preferably than establish wholly-owned subsidiaries, and reaffirms requirements to train and employ Indian nationals at all levels of operation, to use made-in-India equipment and components whenever they are available, and to transfer engineering science to Indian affiliates. These requirements symboliset that the government was strongly interested in having chemic sics located within the country break-dance capametropolis to under precede all steps from lancinate material with intermediate chemicals through with(predicate) last(a) product on-the-spot(prenominal) rather than relying on grapple intermediates. 969 Bhopal full treatment begins operating. Initial operations consisted of make raw fertilizer and formulating (diluting to usable strengths) pesticides with US-origin technical grade chemical concentrates. UCIL industrial chemists develop a method of producing alpha-napthol that UCIL anticipates creatio n able to scale up to economically competitive production volumes. UCIL is reconsidering its business plan as the big making of alpha-napthol acidulates out to be more challenging than it anticipated. brass of India begins pressing UCC and UCIL to have UCIL plants shift from formulation using US- origin chemicals to full production in India. It makes issuing an operating license for the Bhopal plant conditional on its using domestically-made alpha-napthol. regimen of India establishes National commissioning for Environmental Planning and Coordination. 1970 1972 1973 Indian Parliament adopts Foreign convince Regulation Act 1973. Among otherwise strong controls on flows of money in and out of India it establishes a evasion for government control over Indian firms decisions on hiring foreigners as employees or contractors.Indian Government approves UCC-UCIL initiation Transfer Agreement and good Services Agreement under which UCC will provide the basic act upon design of a pl ant capable of producing SEVIN (a carbaryl pesticide used on cotton and other crops) and training for Indian performers of plant. Design Transfer Agreement limits UCC to provision of the butt on design and materials specification. Detailing the design and building the plant are to be under taken by Indians nationals employed by or contracting with UCIL.Government also uses powers to license technology consequences to guide selection of suppliers of components for plant to Indian firms as much as possible. 3 of 19 Engineers employed by UCIL who will be involved in plant design chatter UCC Technical Center in West Virginia to earn about US plant specifications and start process of adapting them to Indias conditions. 1974 Indian Parliament adopts legislation requiring that Indian companies partly owned by foreigners reduce foreigners ownership share. For companies with 60% foreign ownership, the new legal maximum is 50. %. UCIL complies by the end of 1978 through sale of additional shares of shopworn offered only to Indians these shares were held by 24,000 different persons or entities, with the Government of India itself holding 25% of UCIL stock. Indian Parliament adopts pissing (Pre electrical outletion and fancy of Pollution) and Air (Pre sendion and visit of Pollution) Acts. These establish the central government as the main standard-setter speckle go forth enforcement to state governments. Both Acts increase penalties for causing pollution but do not specify any emissions or ambient standards. 975 b flight Master Plan for City of Bhopal establishes a separate district for idle industry in an open area 15 miles from center of town, and zone the area where UCILs plant has been constructed for commercial and light, non-hazardous, industry only. City authorities want UCIL to take up its operations to this area. Indian Government licenses UCIL to erect up to 5,000 tons of carbaryl pesticides a year in Bhopal plant UCIL hires Humphreys and Glasgow C onsultants Private Limited, an Indian subsidiary of Londonbased Humphreys and Glasgow, to level the plant design and supervise construction. 976 Madhya Pradesh Town and Country Planning menu classifies the UCIL plant as general industry rather than hazardous industry. This allows plant to stay in its established location rather than move to Bhopals new hazardous industry zone. Bhopal plant begins production of pesticides and begins $2. 5 million see to expand alphanapthol production unit to accommodate Sevin production. India hit by drought farmers need loans from government to ride out the loss of harvests. They also cut back on pesticide purchases. 1978 Bhopal plants new alpha-napthol units components fail soon later startup. 2 million reconstruction project begun. Production of pesticides conducts using alpha-napthol imported from UCCs US plants. 31 Oct 1977 4 of 19 UCC and UCIL decide to shift Bhopal plant to methyl isocyanite (MIC) process to produce SEVIN because parent UCC regarded this process as more economical and efficient than its previous way of producing it. New Bhopal MIC unit based on design of UCCs MIC unit in contribute, West Virginia. (See separate knave on alternative methods for production of SEVIN or similar carbamate pesticides. winter Progress review of Bhopal project at UCC headquarters. Concerns about constitute of building plant and reduced estimates of potential pesticide sales lead to consideration of whether Bhopal project can be scaled back. declinationision is to continue as construction is too far advanced. conjoin spark ignites nearby chemicals because welder unaware of and supervisory program did not point out nearby flammables. Fire causes Rs. 6. 2 million ($730,000) in property damage, but no injuries to workers. 20 UCIL engineers sent to UCCs West Virginia MIC plant for training in plant operation and safety.UCC engineers sent to India for pre-startup inspection of Bhopal plant notify multiple deficiencies in safety measures. They also advise UCIL management of need to develop possibility plan for alerting and evacuating nearby population in e mercantile establishment of major liquid evasion. UCIL management later reports it had developed such plans city and state government officials offered in 1984 that they were not aware of any such plans. UCC Eastern Division brings up question of Bhopal plant at a global strategy meeting because of concern that it, like Institute WV plant, is too outstanding for the market. projects to export part of Bhopal plants production are not select because of potential negative effects on UCC subsidiaries in other countries. UCC sends 8 US engineers and technicians to Bhopal plant to suffice with startup and early operation of MIC unit. 1980 Government loans to farmers come due. Farmers shift to less expensive pesticides. Many of the newer pesticides are synthetic pyrethroids that are also safer in Indian conditions than carbaryl types like Sevin. In dian Government upgrades National Committee for Environmental Planning to cabinet-level Department of Environment.Both national and most state governments (including Madhya Pradesh) have Pollution Control Boards to inspect and enforce environmental laws. March Government approves UCIL application to retain 1 UCC engineer through 31 May 1981 renews approval through 31 May 1982 and then to 31 declination 1982. 7 of the 8 UCC engineers and technicians sent from West Virginia return home. The remaining engineer continues to serve as plant theater director until June 1982, then remains as a consultant. 24 Nov 1978-79 1979 June 5 of 19 fall A second gear UCC engineer team visits the Bhopal plant and repeats warnings about ack of contingency plan. Rebuilt alpha-napthol unit started up fails again and is shut down. Alpha-napthol imports continue. Bhopal plant returns a modest profit for the year. National census puts City of Bhopal population at 895,815. Significant populations of novel arrivals from the countryside have settled in shanty towns near UCIL plant. 1981 June UCIL/UCC review of Bhopal plant operation shows that the variable live of producing alphanapthol in Bopal is 4x the US cost and the variable cost of producing SEVIN in Bhopal are 3. 5x US costs.UCC and UCIL are both aware that new-formula pesticides coming onto market in India and other countries are likely to reduce demand for SEVIN. UCC wants UCIL to import MIC from UCC plant in West Virginia Government of India refuses permits because it wants the making of MIC undertaken in India. 24 Dec 1 supervisor and 2 workers exposed to phosgene leak during a maintenance operation one of the workers dies from effects of phosgene inhalation. UCIL management says he was at fault for removing his gas mask workers claim supervisors gave insufficient warnings.Accident reported to UCC UCC response plan includes additional training and some design changes. 1982 uncertain 10 Feb Feb UCIL notes growth of shantyto wns near the Bhopal plant and asks the city to establish a greenbelt zone around it to prevent further shantytown expansion. City does not act. 25 workers injured when a pump seal fails and significant quantities of MIC, phosgene, and hydrochloric acid gases escape into plant. Some treated on-site 16 sent to local hospital Workers supporter a local journalist get into plant he observes and writes about poor condition of plant and lax safety routines. local newspaper publishes the explanation but its warnings that a massive leak is likely are ignored. India Labor Department investigates the Dec. 1981 fatal disaster and recommends corrective measures. Bhopal plant is operating at less than half talent because of weak market for its products. Local competitors making cheaper pesticides continue gaining market share. spring Either UCIL asks UCC to send engineering team to inspect plant, or UCC does on own initiative (accounts vary, usually consistently with author effort to show UCC was or was not in close control of plant during the post-disaster litigation). 6 of 19 2 April May 3 electricians fulfill minor burns when one drops a screwdriver into an electrical panel and it shortcircuits. State inspectors recommend better insulating material of circuits. UCC engineers inspect Bhopal plant, issue Operational Safety Survey on conditions in plant, warn there is documentary danger of a frolic reaction suggest measures to avert danger UCIL management reports to UCC on follow-up, motto they will undertake all suggested measures, but do not act on the recommendation to increase the range of the fire piddle spraying system from 15 meters to 35 meters so it can reach the cover song of the MIC vent pipe.The last UCIL communication on followup, dated 26 June 1984, says all changes have been made except one to the SEVIN feed armored combat vehicle, which will be spotd when the needed control valve is delivered in about a month. summer Jagannathan Mukund, Indian c itizen trained at Institute WV plant, replaces US national Warren Woomer as plant manager. UCIL has to sustain failure of efforts to scale up alpha-napthol production alpha-napthol unit shut down as too unproductive to run. Worker transfers begin. Aug Sept fall 6 OctSplash of liquid MIC at plant injures a chemical engineer UCIL applies for extension of its Foreign Collaboration Agreement with UCC through declination 1987 so it can continue importing alpha-napthol. Indian government approves UCIL application for renewal of Foreign Collaboration Agreement with UCC, but only to 1 Jan 1985. Leaks of MIC, hydrochloric acid, and chloroform injure 3 workers seriously enough to require brief hospitalization 15 others less affected are presumptuousness first aid at plant. Some panic in close shantytown.State inspectors note several violations of normal operating procedures and recommend measures including red tags on equipment that should not be used. Labor unions complain to Madhya Pra desh Ministry of Labor about conditions in plant. Also begin occasional public demonstrations. Madhya Pradesh state labor ministry inspectors inspect plant but they are mechanical engineers with limited competence to evaluate safety of chemical plants. Labor Ministry officials do enter complaints with courts, but these will not be taken up for some time owing to long list of p destruction suits.Madhya Pradesh minister of labor says the plant is safe and berates opposition for its worries during question time in a December session of the state legislature. 31 Dec Warren Woomer, the last remaining American employee, leaves Bhopal plant. 7 of 19 1983 Various cost-cutting measures undertaken. Staff morale declines through the year as layoffs and resignations take effect. Experienced workers leave and are replaced by less see workers from other units of Bhopal plant or other UCIL plants.Madhya Pradesh State Pollution Control Board requires companies to declare what they are emitting i nto the air. UCIL declared carbon dioxide only, not the other gasses (including phosgene and MIC) that occasionally leak. Board insufficiencys sufficient inspectors to follow up, even after animals die from drinking body of water from a stream just removed the plant polluted by fluid runoff from the plant. Sept. fall Dec. Chief of National Pollution Control Board visits plant area while in Bhopal.Orders UCIL to fix flaws in effluent evaporation pond that permit leaks onto adjacent land. UCIL complies. Proposal to salvage investment in Bhopal plant by converting part of it to produce new carbofuran pesticide and supply it to India and other markets are rejected as economically unfeasible by UCC. Jumper pipe connected in the midst of hale valve header and relief valve header on MIC tanks to simplify maintenance. Bhopal plant manager Jagannathan Mukund given UCC safety award for operating 12 months without serious incident. 1984Bhopal plant operating at 1/5 capacity owing to weak demand. Losses near $4 million since 1980. Successive reductions in force play mean only 1 supervisor and 6 workers are present on each shift in the MIC unit ( social club guidelines state that the MIC unit should have 3 supervisors and 12 workers on each shift). Training of supervisors and workers has become less rigorous. April Madhya Pradesh government legalizes the shanty towns that have grown up just outside UCIL plant since 1978 by granting dwellers certificates of ownership of the land they occupy.Bhopal population estimated to be close to 900,000 and the shanty towns are notably larger than they had been in 1981. UCC approves UCIL proposals to write off the alpha-napthol unit, sell rest of Bhopal plant while retaining MIC unit, reduce UCC ownership share of UCIL to 40% so UCIL can be more independent. Neither the UCC share reduction nor the plant sale had been carried out by December. May June or July Bhopal Town Planning Board lists 18 factories as obnoxious and whence to be monitored particularly carefully. UCILs Bhopal plant was not included on the list.Sept UCIL engineers inspect plant, report to UCIL top management that 1) gas scrubber is functioning poorly, 2) there are poor communication in the midst of plant production and maintenance staff, 3) workers lack instruction on what do in event of runaway reaction, 4) safety meetings are held only half as often as specified in company rules. 8 of 19 UCC engineers survey MIC plant in Institute, West Virginia. They report concerns about some aspects of plant operation there and possibility of a runaway reaction in the MIC storehouse tanks (larger than the tanks installed in the Bhopal plant).Oct UCC considers idea of dismantling Bhopal plant and shipping equipment to Brazil or Indonesia. Asks UCIL to draw up feasibility study and cost estimates. UCIL reports back 29 Nov. Question of what to do is pressing because the plant will have no source of alpha-napthol when UCILs Foreign Collaboration Agree ment with UCC expires on 1 Jan 1985. 7-22 Oct Remaining phosgene and methylamine stocks at Bhopal plant are used up in making a last batch of MIC. 42 tons are put into armoured combat vehicle E610 about 20 tons into Tank E611. UCIL plan is to withdraw it a ton at a time In November and December and react it with alpha-napthol to produce SEVIN.The entrepot tanks are detached and the MIC production unit is shut down for maintenance after the batch is finished MIC unit production workers are assigned to other tasks. 31 Oct Curfew imposed in Bhopal after inter-communal riots sparked by news Sikh guards had assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Plant activities curtailed for several weeks because curfew affects ability of second shift to leave work and of third to arrive for work on time are affected. MIC drawn down in excellent batches. Nov last week of Nov. According to later testimony of plant workers, the position of second-shift maintenance supervisor was eliminated. Dec c ondition of plant safety systems at start of second shift Safety System vent gas scrubber (uses caustic soda to neutralize toxic gas exhaust from MIC plant and remembering tanks before release thru vent gage or flare) flare (burns toxic gasses to neutralize them) Condition on 2 Dec 1984 on standby since MIC not in active production but could be activated by plant operators in event of need insufficient capacity to burn large volumes of escaping gas shut down in November for replacement of a corroded pipe MIC process vents rerouted to the vent gas scrubber while repairs proceed shut down June 1984 and coolant (Freon) drained for use elsewhere in plant refrigeration system (keep MIC at temperatures of 0-5 degrees C (32 to 42 degrees F) where it is less reactive) firewater spray pipes (to control escaping usable but insufficient height to reach gasses, cool over-heated equipment or douse top of vent stack fires) 9 of 19 afety valve between MIC storage tanks and MIC holding tank in S EVIN production area working(a) designed to hold MIC in at normal force per unit areas and release it if tweet too high. there are 2 competing versions of events on December 2nd between 9 and 11 pm. The first is preferred by most authors who have studied the events the second is offered by only a few. *See note at end for more information about the controversy. Divergent accounts of how water entered Tank E610 Version 1 water- race of pipes 8-9 pm Second-shift production superintendent orders MIC plant supervisor to flush several pipes running from the phosgene system to the scrubber via the MIC storage tanks.MIC unit workers are in charge of the flushing, but maintenance department is responsible for inserting the set down flummox (a solid disk) into pipe above the water washing inlet as plant manual requires. These take 30 minutes-2 hours to install. The MIC unit workers were apparently not aware that installation is a required safety procedure, and slip bind is not installe d first. Temperature of MIC in tanks is between 15 and 20 degrees C . 9. 30 Water washing begins. One bleeder valve (overflow device) downstream from the flushing was blocked so water did not come out as it was supposed to. It accumulated in the pipes. A worker shut off the water flow but the plant supervisor ordered that the washing resume.By then water had risen past a leaking isolation valve in the lines being washed and got into the relief valve pipe 20 feet above ground. by 10. 30 pm Water has flowed from the relief valve pipe through the jumper pipe into the process pipe through valves normally kept open. Water gets Water washing proceeded as described but none of the water used for washing traveled far enough down the right pipe to enter Tank E610. Version 2 antagonize 10 of 19 through an open blow-down valve that is part of the nitrogen pressurization system. It is unclear whether the valve had been left open or had failed to fully seal when last unappealing. Water then f lows into tank E610 via a normally-open isolation valve. 10. 30-10. 45 pm Second shift goes off work third shift comes on. washables continues after second shift worker briefs third shift worker on build of the job. around 10. 30 pm A disgruntled worker removes a pressure gauge on a pipe leading to Tank E610 and connects a water hose to the coupler. Water enters Tank E610 shared account of responses to detection of problems 11 pm Third shift control room operator notices pressure gauge connected to Tank E610 has risen from a reading of about about 2 psi at the start of the shift to 10 psi. This is within the normal 2-25 psi range, so arouses no concern. Control room lacks any reliable way of monitoring tank temperatutre. about 11. 30 pm Workers in area notice MIC smell, see MIC leak near the scrubber.Find MIC and dirty water coming out a branch of the relief valve pipe on the downstream side of the safety valve, away from the tank area. They set up a water spray to neutralize the leaking MIC and inform control room forcefulness of situation and their actions. They then take their regular tea break, continuing to discuss the situation and what they should do next. 3 December about 12. 15 am Control room operator notices that control room pressure indicator for Tank E610 reads 25-30 psi about 12. 30 am . Control room operator notices that phonograph needle on pressure indicator for Tank E610 is pinned to the maximum reading of 55 psi. Control room operator goes out to tank area to check gauges on tank.While in tank area he hears a safety valve pop, hears rumbling in tank, and feels heat emanating from it. Returns to control room to engage the gas vent scrubber. Caustic soda does not flow as it should. A cloud of gas escapes from the scrubber stack. by 12. 40 am Plant supervisor suspends operation of the MIC plant, turns on the in-plant and external toxic gas sirens. remote sirens audible in nearby neighborhoods are turned off after about five minutes. Opera tors turn on the fire water sprayers but water cannot reach the gas cloud forming at the top of the scrubber stack. Efforts to cool Tank E610 with the refrigeration system fail because the Freon had been drained. Gas escapes for about 2 hours. 11 of 19 efore 1 am Plant supervisor realizes that tank E619, the designated spare, is not empty, so workers cannot relieve the pressure in E610 by transferring any MIC to E619. by 1 am gas smell is obvious outside the plant nearby residents awake at the time or awakened by noise and comprehend the gas odor start fleeing in panic. 1. 30 am Bhopal police chief informed of leak and panic by an on-duty officer who ran to his house no significant police mobilization follows. about 2. 30 am Bhopal plant external siren for warning the neighborhood is turned on again about 3 am Army engineer units with trucks are mobilized after a retired brigadier general requests help evacuating workers from his factory near the UCIL plant (but not under the stron gest gas concentrations).Army unit then expands operations to assist general populace by transporting injured to hospitals and clinics. Some mobilization of city ambulances. Medical personnel hearing of situation head to hospitals and clinics. before 8 am Madhya Pradesh governor orders closure of plant positivist arrest of plant manager and 4 other employees. afternoon Head of India Pollution Control Board informed of accident. Efforts to learn points from Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board fail because phone calls cannot get through. surround conversation with UCIL office in New Delhi (also unable to get phone calls through to the plant) provides some information about possible causes. ate afternoon Indian Central Bureau of Investigation takes control of plant and UCIL records there. CBI agents begins interviewing plant supervisors and workers bar entry by anyone else, including other UCIL employees. Dec Many government offices and businesses in Bhopal closed dead buried or cremated in accordance with their families religious traditions initial treatment of injured way out 18-19 Dec Under government supervision the MIC still in storage at the UCIL is plant is neutralised by combining with alpha-napthol to make finished pesticides. Local population leaves town as a precaution. 1985 July 1985-98 1994 1998 Madhya Pradesh government rejects UCIL application for renewal of operating license.Plant closed Some work on cleanup of plant site by UCIL. UCC sells its share of UCIL to McLeod Russell (India) Limited. McLeod Russell renames UCIL Eveready Industries India, Ltd. State of Madhya Pradesh takes over plant site from Eveready Industries. 12 of 19 * posting on the two versions of how water reached storage tank 610. Timelines of the alternate possibilities are constructed from the works of several Indian authors who collectively used interviews with plant staff, court depositions by plant staff, interviews with local residents and officials, UCIL executives and UCC technicians, and UCIL or UCC documents obtained during the post-disaster litigation.Most of the detail comes from Paul Srivastava, Bhopal Anatomy of a Crisis (Cambridge, MA Ballinger, 1987),and Sanjoy Hazarika, Bhopal The Lessons of a Tragedy (New Delhi Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 1987), who take different views but are careful to acknowledge areas of uncertainty. The initial exposition of the water-washing explanation was provided in an Indian government report, S. Varadarajan et al. Report on Scientific Studies in the Factors Related to Bhopal Toxic Gas Leakage (New Delhi Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dec 1985). The sabotage theory was developed by consulting engineers from Arthur D Little, Inc. commissioned by UCC to investigate the causes. It was publicly laid out in Ashok S. Kalelkar, Investigation of Large-Magnitude Incidents Bhopal as a Case Study, in I. Chem. E. Symposium Series No. 110 The invention of Chemical Engineers 1988, p 561.Version 1 in the timeline, favored by local and international trade union establishatives, local activists, the Indian government, transnational environmental and consumer organizations, and most technical experts (see Chemical and Engineering give-and-take 4 July 1988) is based on known water-washing activities. Proponents of version 2, favored by UCC after its investigators were able to visit the plant in early 1985, point out that the water washing occurred a good infinite away from the storage tanks and there is no evidence water ran through the connections from the washing area to the storage tanks. They also point to evidence that the pressure gauge on the pipe leading into Tank 610 was observe to be missing when tank area was surveyed before 10 am on Dec tertiary and a replacement gauge was installed. The most thorough summary of this version is Themistocles DSilva, The Black misfortune of Bhopal 1993 who does state clearly that he was a UCIL employee though not at the Bhopal plant in the 1980s. ) eve if sabotage were involved, no commentator thinks the saboteur was trying to cause a catastrophic gas leak knowledge of safety hazards among the workers was spotty enough that very few of them understood the full effect of introducing water into the MIC storage tanks. The controversy was sharpened in the course of the extremely acrimonious litigation between the Government of India and UCC. UCC first raised the sabotage allegation in 1985 and repeated it in 1988 but never named the guess saboteur. A worker believing he is the suspect publicly challenged UCC to name the suspect and denied that he had any involvement in sabotage.UCC planned to wait until the trial before the Indian autonomous court of law to do so out-of-court settlement made that unnecessary and it never publicly revealed the full basis of its suspicions. In a FAQ section of its website on Bhopal (www. bhopal. com) Union Carbides answer to the question of if there was sabotage why hasnt the c ompany named anyone, it says that the name is known to Indian enforcement authorities. While a useful way to avoid smear suits, the continuing refusal to provide a name response is interpreted as weakening UCCs claim by those who reject the sabotage theory. Notice that the contending versions of events between 9 and 11 pm on December 2nd only provide different explanations of how water got into MIC storage tank 610.Everyone who has studied the disaster agrees that the injuries to neighboring residents were caused by an unneutralized cloud of leaked gas that escaped through the vent, and that the reaction producing this cloud was triggered by water contamination. though the concrete shielding of the storage tanks cracked above Tank 610 (indicating that its temperature 13 of 19 got above cd degrees F), the tank itself was found to be uncracked when inspected after remaining contents were neutralized and removed in mid-December 1984. There is no substantial disagreement about the con ditions of the safety systems that night or on the responses of the supervisors and workers after the small MIC leak was noticed around 11. 30.Nor is there any significant disagreement about the inadequacy of contingency plans for in-plant response and evacuation of neighboring settlements, the poor communication about hazards with city and state authorities, or the inadequateness of warnings to surrounding settlements when the gas cloud formed. Descriptions of the extent and timing of action by city officials, state officials, soldiery units in Bhopal, and national government officials also vary very little controversy about government response is focused on the adequacy of actions in the days, months, and years following the disaster. 14 of 19 Bhopal Gas Disaster Chronology Ensuing Litigation 985 March UCC and Government of India investigatory teams conclude independently that runaway chemical reaction causing MIC gas cloud was caused by water getting into Tank 610 Indian Parlia ment adopts Bhopal Disaster Relief Act making Indian government the sole legal representative for all victims of the Bhopal disaster. US federal partition lawcourt consolidates all lawsuits pending in US about Bhopal gas leak into one case, Union of India v. Union Carbide Corporation. rest of year Victims and victim advocates complain about lack of effective relief. rest of year UCC stock declines total stock value of company in December put at approximately $3 one thousand million. UCC sells off assets (mainly petrochemicals and consumer product divisions) for $3. 5 gazillion and borrows $2. 8 billion to fend off $5. million takeover bid by GAF (General Analine and Film, another specialty chemical maker) 1986 Government of India lawyers and UCC lawyers begin discussion of an out-of-court settlement. Union Carbide proposes a settlement amount of $350 million under arrangements that it estimates will buzz off a fund for Bhopal victims of between $500-600 million over 20 years. Government rejects this offer as insufficient. Indian and foreign activist groups supporting victims have already publicized their own estimates contending that damages are at least $3 billion if loss of animals, loss of income from inability to work, loss of business in the weeks after the gas release, and related damages are also taken into account. April U. S.Occupational Safety and Health establishment proposed a $1. 4 million fine against Union Carbide Corp, based on results of its September 1985 inspection of five of 18 plant units at Institute, West Virginia. OSHA alleges 221 violations of 55 wellness and safety laws, listing 72 of the 221 as serious (the category for violations creating conditions in which there is substantial probability of death or significant injury. US Federal District Court rules on a preliminary motion in Government of India v. Union Carbide Corporation invoking forum non conveniens doctrine it determines that trials relating to injuries suffered in th e Bhopal disaster should be held in India. March May 5 of 19 Sept. Dec. Government of India proceeds against UCC in District Court in Bhopal, seeking $3 billion in total requital for 630,000 persons in Bhopal area. Bhopal District court orders UCC to hold $3 billion in unencumbered assets as collateral while lawsuit pending. This to prevent conscious a run-down of assets, rumors of which were paramount in USA and India at the time. UCC offers $50 million, then $80 million in remuneration, amounts derived from typical Indian settlements. Amounts widely criticized, viewed as insulting by victim groups, rejected by Government of India. 1987 Jan rest of year 1988 Victim lawsuits continue in Indian courts.State of Madhya Pradesh also files criminal charges against Warren Anderson, then chief operating officer of UCC, and several UCIL executives or plant supervisors for their roles in causing the disaster. 1989 Feb Under prodding by Indian despotic Court, UCC and Government of India a gree to a $470 million settlement of all Bhopal gas leak-related claims. arbitrary Court endorses settlement, making it binding on both parties. It also grants immunity against criminal charges arising from the gas leak. The $470 million is paid to the Government of India as sole legal representative of the victims. 36 special courts established in Bhopal to deal with applications for compensation Value of UCC stock rebounds somewhat with news of settlement.UCC CEO Robert Kennedy (replaced Anderson in 1987) completes reorganization of UCC into a holding company with 3 main divisions chemicals and plastics, industrial products, carbon products. 1990 Oct 2 groups of victims file class action suits in Texas alleging that India failed to represent them adequately because of government agencies ownership of UCIL stock, and therefore did not secure them sufficient compensation. Consistent with 16 of 19 US Court of Appeals upholds US District Court ruling that Bhopal disaster litigation s hould proceed in India rather than the USA. UCC sells off last petrochemicals and consumer products divisions norms of mutual respect for court decisions, US courts refuse to review the Indian Supreme Courts ruling. Nov.Government of Madhya Pradesh submits final list of names of victims to be compensated for injuries suffered in gas leak to Indian Supreme Court. Total deaths attributable to gas exposure put at 3,828. 1991 Oct Indian Supreme Court confirms compensation settlement, issues ruling modifying certain parts of 1989 judgment. These include UCC establishment of a trust fund to support a new hospital in Bhopal to treat victims ongoing health problems and revoking immunities from criminal charges. District Sessions Court in Bhopal reinstates charges of culpable manslaughter not amounting to murder and lesser charges relating to voluntary botheration of harm against Warren Anderson and 8 UCIL executives or supervisors. 1992 Apr 1993 Mar.NY Times reports that India has paid 700 Bhopal claims government attributes delay to complexities of verifying the claims given chaotic record keeping at the time. Victim advocates blame on government incompetence. US Supreme Court declines to review federal court decisions in 1990 cases dismissing suits against India. UCC establishes the trust fund. Oct. 1994 Apr Nov Dec Indian Supreme Court approves UCC plans to sell its 50. 9% share of UCIL proceeds to be given to Trust Fund for hospital in Bhopal. UCC completes sale of UCIL to McLeod Russell (India) Ltd. of Calcutta for approximately $93 million UCC provides initial payment of proceeds into Trust Fund.Ten-Year Impact of Bhopal Disaster on UCC year ending 31 Dec. 1984 total assets $10,518 million capital $7962 million year ending 31 Dec. 1994 $5028 million $2479 million 17 of 19 net sales net income R&D spending employees from UCC annual reports $9608 million $323 million $265 million 98,666 $4653 million $379 million $136 million 12,004 1999 Jan 2000 Mar break actio n suit, Bano v. Union Carbide Corporation, filed in US Federal Courts by Haseena Bi and other organizations representing residents of Bhopal seeking compensation for gas-leak related injuries and for further harm from exposure to contaminants afterward under US Alien Tort Claims Act.US District Court dismisses Bano case UCC completed payments to Trust Fund, which now totals $100 million. Construction of hospital is complete and physicians and other staff being recruited. Aug 2001 Trust Fund-financed Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre begins treating patients. 2004 July Indian Supreme Court orders government to release all additional settlement pecuniary resource to the victims. Indian newspapers reports after all claims were paid there was still about $327 million in the fund because of interest earned while the money was in escrow pending distribution. Indian nationals file Janki Bai Sahu v. Union Carbide Corporation in US Federal District Court.Suit seeks compensation f or personal injuries claimed to be result of exposure to contaminated water and remedy work at former UCIL plant after the gas leak. Nov 2005 Apr Indian Supreme Court grants Indian Government Welfare Commission for Bhopal Gas Victims request for an extension of deadline on distribution of remaining funds and extends it to April 30, 2006. Indian newspapers report that approximately $390 million remains in the fund. US Federal District Court dismisses two of the three compensation claims raised in the Janki Bai Sahu case. Dec 18 of 19 2006 Sept Indian newspapers report that the Welfare Commission for Bhopal Gas Victims has completed paying out all claims to listed victims of initial gas leak.The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upholds the dismissal of claims in Bano vs. Union Carbide Corporation. Federal District Court dismisses remaining claim in Janki Bai Sahu case. 2007 Mar A group of Indian citizens files a new class action suit, Jagarnath Sahu et al. v. Union Carbide Corporation and Warren Anderson, seeking compensation for damage to six various(prenominal) properties allegedly polluted by contaminants from the Bhopal plant, as well as the remediation of property in 16 colonies squatter settlements adjoining the plant. Federal Courts issue a stay suspension of proceedings pending resolution of appeal in Janki Bai Sahu case as the issues in litigation are so similar. -end- Nov 19 of 19